Log shaping machine



July 14', 1953 E. WILSON LOG SHAPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1948 I N VEN TOR. fizz/mu 14 5/8077 July 14, 1953 E. w|| so- LOG SHAPING MACHINE "s sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 8. 1948 INVENTOR. {award l/z'lson ATTDRN EYS E. WILSON LOG SHAPING MACHINE July 14,1953

6 Sheets-$heqt 3 Fildd- June 8, 1948 In M INVENTOR.

I [award Wz'lsan July 14, 1953 5, WILSON LOG SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1948 ATTD RN EYE y 4 5 E. WILSON 54 LOG SHAPING MACHINE med June a, .1948 5 Shea-8:31:06 s 1 I N VEN TOR.

562mm M1 0 July 14, 1953 Filed June 8, 1948 E. WILSON 2,645,253

LOG SHAPING MACHINE IN VEN T OR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1953 LOG'SHAPING MACHINE Edward Wilson, Dubois, Idaho Application June 8, 1948, Serial No. 31,661

5 Claims. (01. 142-51) The present invention relates to improvements in wood working machines for turning, cutting, or trimming rough solid or tubular cylindrical work to a uniform exterior diameter, or circular cross section, and more specifically to an improved log shaping machine which while adapted for various purposes and uses, is especially designed for shaping logs and/or poles throughout their length with uniform diameters, smoothly finished or polished exterior surfaces, and one or more exterior longitudinally extending jointgrooves; and the finished product of this machine may subsequently be manufactured into structural building units.

In its physical embodiment the log-shaping A;

machine of my invention employs a planetary arrangement of a revolving tubular head and its rotary cutters through which assembly a non-' rotary rough log is fed by power operated reciprocable railway carriages, under control of an operator occupying a seat on one of the carriages.

Means are provided for feeding or successively supplying rough logs from one side of the machine to the carriages,and for laterally discharging the shaped and trimmed logs or finished work from the opposite side of the machine. The machine involvesthe use of a minimum number of standardized parts having self-contained power units or servomotors under manual control, which maybe assembled and installed with convenience, to provide asmooth working, quickacting, precision machine that is efficient and accurate in the performance of its required functions.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will however be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a log-shaping machine embodying my invention, foreshortened and broken away for convenience of illustration. Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view at line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the log-feeding 2 a Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line 3-3 of Fig. 1 facing the hollow or tubular rotary cutter head.

Figure 4 is a foreshortened View in side elevation, with parts in section, showing the two railway carriages and the alined log-clamping members.

Figure 5 is another foreshortened view in side elevation showing the carriages,and the driving means for the cutter-carriage.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the dust-fans, collectors, and conveyors; and Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the groove-cutters, and dust conveyors.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical, sectional view through the tubular cutter head showing the rotary trimming cutters and the groove-cutters; and Figure 9 is a horizontal detail sectional view at line 99 of Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view showing a transverse portion of the tubular cutter head with one of the abrasive or polishing blocks; and Figure 11 is a sectional view at line ll-H of Fig. 10.

Figures 12 and 13 are detail views of the polishing pads or blocks, detached.

Figure 14 is a face view of one of the four rotary cutters; and Figure 15 is a sectional detail view at lines l5-l5of Fig. 14.

In carrying out my invention the operating parts of the machine are supported upon a suitable concrete base, bed, or foundation F having track rails R, and provided with a main dust-' conveyor duct D extending longitudinally beneath the machine, and provided with a screw or spiral conveyor S that is adapted to receive chips, cuttings, and debris through a down-chute C, while other loose material or debris from the machine is conveyed to duct D by way of a lateral duct E. An impeller or rotary fan blower G draws dust and loose debris from a collecting hopper I-I located in appropriate position, and

the impeller discharges the Waste material to the main duct.

Successive logs L are supplied, broadside, from one side of the machine, on a supply ramp 1, to thetwo connected railway carriages A and B, and after the logs are trimmed and shaped they are discharged at the opposite side of the machine upon a ramp, M, from which ramp the finished logs are conveyed for subsequent operations.

The power carriage or propelling carriage A, and the holder-carriage B, which support the log during the trimming operations, are provided with wheels W, and the carriages are operatively connected by an open rectangular supporting frame that includes a pair of upper tubular longitudinally extending parallel bars I, I, and lower bars 2, 2, rigid with the holder-carriage, and these four bars are rigidly united by end heads 3 and 4 of the carriage frame. These bars I and 2 are mounted in and pass through the carriage A to permit relative movement of the carriage with relation to the frame and carriage B, and carriage A is equipped with a ram 5. Carriage B is equipped with a work holder or log holder 6 and mounted on the adjoining inner ends of the ram and work holder are clamping heads I and 8 respectively, between which clamping heads the log L is supplied from the supply ramp I, and then rigidly clamped.

In this rigidly clamped position between the two carriages the rough log is fed to and through the stationary cutting unit that includes a hollow tubular or cylindrical revolving cutter head 9, four rotary cutters 10 mounted in planetary arrangement on and around the revolving tubular cutter head, and two rotary groove cutters, II, II.

slot 32 of the cutter head, and designed to bear against the exterior surface of the trimmed log as it passes through the cutter head. Each polishing pad includes a holder 33 that is hinged on the exterior of the cutter head at 34 in suitable ears or brackets, and a replaceable polishment with the log, and by pressure thereon the As bestseen in Fig. 8, the tubular cutter head 9, through which the log and its holders pass, is journaled in spaced exterior bearings l2, 12, mounted in a frame [3 upon a fixed base [4, and

the cutter head is operated by power froman electric motor 15, as seen in Fig. 1, through a sprocket and chain drive it to a driven sprocket H mounted transversely on the exterior of the cutter head between the spaced bearings l2, 12.

The cutters l0 revolve with the cutter head around the periphery of the advancing log, and rotary movement is imparted to the cutters from the cutter head by means of an internal gear ring 18 fixed on the exterior of the cutter head, which ring meshes with and drives a pinion 19 on the arbor 20 of each rotary cutter. The arbors are journaled in bearings 2|, 2|, mounted in a bearing ring 22 fixed on the exterior of the cutter head torevolve therewith. In the detail Figures 14 and 15 the arbor 20 of each rotary cutter I0 is fashioned with a flanged hollow head 23 and a central boss 24 having a threaded stud, and the cutter is clamped against the head by nut 25 threaded on the stud. The four cutters project from the working face of the cutter head in position to act on the periphery of the advancing log, and each cutter is here shown as equipped with peripheral teeth 26, and a series of conical or tapered teeth 2'! for trimming the periphery of the rough log, and an annular series of spur teeth 28 for smoothing the trimmed log.

As an additional aid in smoothing the trimmed log an. annular abrasive band 29 is resiliently mounted in a groove between the flanged head 23 of the arbor and the cutter, and this abrasive band may readily be replaced when worn.

Chips and cuttings from the rotary cutters are disposed of by means of a rotary fan or impeller 3t mounted on the exterior of the bearing head or ring 22 of the cutter head and surrounding the cutters, and the fan is enclosed within a protective housing 31 rigid with the base M. The cuttings, by centrifugal force of the rotating impeller are directed into the downchute C, through which they fall into the main conveyor duct D.

In addition to the abrading bands 29 of the rotary cutters the rotary cutter "head, at its rear end is equipped with a number, as three, circumferentially spaced polishing pads or sanding blocks, each resiliently mounted in an end pads polish the surface of the trimmed log.

Theupper and lower rotary cutters H, H, which fashion two diametrically. arranged longitudinally extending exterior joint-grooves in the, trimmed log L are located at the rear of the cutter head, and mounted for vertical adjustment upon two spaced columns or posts 39, 39 rigid with a fixed base 49.

Each groove cutter I l' is rigidly mounted upon a horizontally extending spindle 4| which is arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the machine and journaled in spaced bearings 42 ina pair of vertically adjustable and opposed bearing blocks or frames 43, 44. The adjoining faces of the bearing blocks are grooved to fit the two posts and they are clamped on the posts or columns by means of spaced bolts 45 and their nuts.

For vertically adjusting the two groove cutters with relation to the log L, a pair of upright screw bars 45, 46 are journaled at theirupper ends in bearings of a cross-head 41 that is clamped on and ri idly unites the two posts, and these screw bars are threaded through the bearing blocks of'the upper and lower cutters. By means of a wrench or other hand tool applied to the upper squared ends 43 of the screw bars the adjusting bars may be turned to vertically adjust the cutters H, l l, as desired.

For disposing of the dust and chips from the two groove-cutters H, II, the spindles 4| of the cutters are each equipped with a fan blower or impeller 49 that rotates with the spindle to impel the dust from the cutters downwardly to the collecting hopper H, and then the impeller fan G blows the dust to the screw conveyor S and main duct D. I

The two groove cutters are operated by motors 50 and 5| mounted on a frame 52, which is slotted and adjustablysupported by bolts 53 on the housing 3| of the cutter head, and sprocket chain drives 54 from the motors transmit power to a driven sprocket 55 on the spindles 4|.

The loading mechanism for supplying successive logs broadside from the loading ramp I to the carriages A, B, ismounted at one side of the machine in a frame 55 of the ramp 1, and the mechanism is actuated and automatically'controlled by the reciprocating movements of the two carriages. For this purpose a longitudinally extending rock shaft 5? at its ends is journaled in the frame 55, and the shaft is equipped with a series of spaced hooks or carriers 58 in the shape of compound curves that terminate in-end lugs 59, and these hooked carriers'in initial position are rigidly mounted on its ends, and a pair of larger actuating gears 62 and 63 are journaled in bearings of the frame 58 for engagement with the respective pinions. Each of the actuating gears is equipped with a crank arm 54 having a cam head 65, and cam plates 66 andi'lmounted on the sides of the respective carriages A and B are adapted to alternately contact .with and ride down one of the cam heads 65 for rocking the shaft.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the crank arms 64 are fixedly mounted on gears 62 and 63 and as the heads 65 are engaged by the cam plates 66 and 61, respectively, the heads '65 are forced downwardly rotating the large beveled gears and these gears, in turn, rotate the pinions whereby the shaft5'l is rotated from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 through an angle of substantially 180 degrees, depositing a log in the holders H. With continued movement of the carriages the cam 61 on carriage B engages the head of the crank arm of the gear 62 and returns the carriers 58 to the log receiving positions shown in Figures 2 and 3.

For resiliently stabilizing and retaining the loading mechanism in correct positions for use, the shaft 68 of the bevel gear 63 may be equipped with a clutch B9 and spring 19, as best seen in Fig. 1. l

The carriers 58 of the loading mechanism transfer the log and deposit it into a series of spaced Y-shaped holders H located along the longitudinal axis of the machine, and each holder has a leg 12 adjustably fitted in a tubular socket member I3 in which it is locked in adjusted posie tion by means of transverse holes and sockets and a pin or bolt 14; The socket member or extension of the leg, is pivotally mounted or hinged at otherend against the complementary head 8 of the carriage B. i

The hydraulic motor and ram are under control of an operator who occupies a seat on the carriage A, and manipulates a control lever 8| of neron the carriage.

Motive fluid for the hydraulic motor is supplied from a tank 83 and its connected pump 84, and the hydraulic motive ,fluid is alternately supplied toithe motor cylinder of the carriage by pipes 85 and 8.6, a return pipebeing indicated at 81, and

a three-way valve. 82 supported in suitable mana pump-supply pipe being shown at 88 leading to the control valve,

a The hydraulic pump is operated by a motor 89 through a sprocket chain drive 98, and this motor 89 is also employed as a power plant for propelling the carriage A, in connection with speed reducing mechanism contained in the housing 9|.

From the speed reducer 9| are extended a forward drive belt 92 and a reversedrive belt 93,

passing over pulleys 94 journaled in a fixed frame 14 in a bracket or ears 15 fixed on the foundation F, and the L-shaped leg of the holder is equipped with a counterweight 16 that automatically maintains it in erect position to receive a log. One arm of the Y-shaped holder has a horizontal discharge arm l1, and the two Y-shaped arms of the holder receive and retain the log as it is deposited therein.

These pivotally mounted and counterweighted holders are swung downwardly out of the path of the advancing carriage by contact therewith with the front of the carriage A as it is propelled to the left in Fig. 4 to feed the rough log to the cutter head.

When the rough log has been received by and is held in the holders in axial alinement with the machine, the ends of the log are clamped between the two heads I and 8, and for this purpose and operation the tubular ram 5 of the carriage A terminates at its rear end in a hydraulic cylinder 18. The frame head 4 is equipped with a fixed horizontally mounted stem 19 that projects into the cylinder and the stem is equipped with a stationary piston-head 88, which, together with the cylinder forms a hydraulic or fluid pressure motor for advancing the carriage A, ram 5, and its head.[ .to clamp one end of thelog L with its 95, for co-action with a sprocket chain drive 96 to one of the wheels W of the carriage A. These forward and reverse belts are operated alternate- 1y by a belt tightener consisting of a hand lever 91 pivoted at 98 on the frame 95, and this hand lever is equipped with a pair of pulleys 99 for alternate co-action with the forward and reverse belts. By swinging lever 91 to elevate pulley 99 into contact with belt 92 the carriages are propelled forwardly for feeding the log through the 7 and 8 by withdrawal of the head 1 from its end of the log. This release is accomplished by manipulation of the hydraulic, control lever 8| and its valve to permit introduction of motive fluid pressure to the interior of the cylinder 18 between the right hand side of the piston head and the outer end of the cylinder, whichimparts an outward or reverse movement to the carriage A and its ram. It will be understood of course that this release operation of the trimmed log is the IEVBISG of the clamping operation of the rough log When the trimmed log is released it drops into another set of the Y-shaped holders, longitudinally spaced along the axis of the machine and indicated at I90. These pivotally mounted and counterweighted holders are held in upright position to receive the released log, and each of these holders has a laterally extending discharge arm similar to but oppositely pointed from arm 1'! of the loading holders H. The pivotally mounted unloading holders I00 are initially depressed by the advancing carriage B, and automatically rise to upright position after passage 'of the carriage.

log, the operator on carriage A, by manipulating lever 91 shifts the belt-tightener mechanism 01' the chain drivesfi, thatprop ls the carria es, and the latter are reversely propelled to initial position for reception of another log fromthe loading holders that has been deposited from the loading-ramp.

- .When shaping logs having large butt-ends, and especially when they are coated with debris, this, excess material may be removed by means of four auxiliary chisel-cutters, as IOI, spaced circumferentially about the tubular cutter head in position to cut the excess material from the log, and these chisel-cutters, rotatable with the cutter head, are adjustably mounted in brackets or holders Hi2 bolted on the front face of the cutter head.

Various appliances and adjustments may be made foreilicient operation of the machine, as for instance, the heights of the carriages A and B may be adjusted with relation to their sup' porting wheels by means of slotted plates H13 that are bolted at N14 to the carriages, and these axle-plates support the bearings for the wheels W of the carriages.

In order to insure guidance and maximum precision in the longitudinal feed of the log through the cutter head, the tubular holder 6 of carriage B may be equipped with a tubular telescoping plunger rod 165 that communicates with the hydraulic system of carriage A. A dash-pot plunger rod ms extends therefrom to anelectrical control station I01, and a flexible electrical conductor or cable 08 is adapted to wind upon and unwind from a rotary reel I09. This cable may be extended through one of the tubular rods or bars 1 of the carriage frame to the electric motor 90 that, supplies power to propel the connected carriages.

The various electric motors for operating parts of the machine are provided with the necessary equipment for control of the motors, and these controls are located where they are readily accessible to the operator riding on the carriage A;

Operation Logs entering the machine through the supply ramp I are picked up by the carriers 58 and deposited into the holders "H where the logs are gripped between the ram 5 and the log-holders 6 and with continued movement of the carriages A and B the log iscarried through the cylindricalcutting head which is shown in detail in Figure 8 whereby the rough outer surfaces of the logs are cut away by the rotary cutters l0 and the surface of the log is sanded by the belt sanders carried by the cutters. I

Although it is not desired to be limited to a particular speed, as an example, these cutters travel at a speed of ten thousand R. P. M. with the tubular cutter head on which the cutters are mounted traveling or rotating two thousand five hundred R. P. ,M.

As the log continues to travel through the tubular cutter head it is engaged by the sanders '35 and afterpassing through the cutter head the finished'logs are deposited upon the platform M.

Having-thus-fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is:

1. 'In .a'log shaping machine, the combination which comprises an elongated horizontally disposed frame,,a log receiving cylinder positioned on said frame, log holding carriages on the frame, positioned at opposite endsof the cylinder and mounted-to;t-ravel longitudinallyof the frame for carrying 198$ ith' iQllgh .said cylinder, a ram 8, mounted to travel lon itudinally in one of said carriages, means for actuating the ram for drivinga log longitudinally throughthev cylinder, means journaling the log receiving cylinder on the frame, means rotating the cylinder, a ring mounted on one endof thecylinder, a plurality of spaced longitudinally disposed shafts journaled in said ring, pinions on said shaft, an internal gear mounted on said frame and positioned to mesh with the pinions on the shafts a plurality of rotary cutters mounted on extended ends of the shafts positioned to extend beyond the end of the cylinder and into the path of a log passing through the cylinder, and means for removing the finished logs from the carriages.

2. In a log shaping machine, the combination which comprises an elongated machineframe, a power carriage mounted in said frame and adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a holder carriage also mounted in the frame and'also adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a ram slidably mounted in said power carriage, a power cylinder mounted in said power carriage for actuating said ram toward the holding carriage, a clamping head .on said holder carriage and aligned with said ram, a cylindrical cutter head journaled on said frame and positioned between the power and holder carriages, a plurality of radially disposed rotary cutters journaled on said cutter head, gears on said rotary cutters, a stationary gear mounted on said frame and positioned in meshing relation with the gears of the rotary cutters, and means for rotating the cylindrical cutter head whereby the rotary cutters operate on a log carried by the ram and clamping head as the log is carried longitudinally through the cylindricalcutter head by the ram.

3. In a log shaping machine, the combination which comprises an elongated machine frame, a power carriage mounted in said frame and adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a holder carriage also mounted in the frame and also adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a ram slidably mounted in said power carriage, a power cylinder mounted in said power carriage for actuating said ramtoward the holding carriage, a clamping head on said holder carriage and aligned with said ram, a'cylindrical cutter head journaled on said frame andpositioned between the power and'holder carriages, a plurality of radially disposed rotary cutters journaled on said cutter head, gears on said rotary cutters, a stationary gear mounted on said frame and positioned in meshing relation with the gears of the rotary cutters, and means for rotating the cylindrical cutter head whereby the rotary cutters operate on a log carried by the ram and clampmg 'head as the log is carried longitudinally through the cylindrical cutter head. by the ram.

4. In a log shaping machine, the combination which comprises an elongated machine frame, a power carriage mounted in said frame and adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a holder carriage also mounted in the frame and also adapted to travel longitudinally therein, a'ram slidably mounted in said power carriage, a power cylinder mounted in said power carriage for actuating said ram toward the holding carriage, a clamping head on said holder carriages, a plurality of radially disposed rotary cutters journaled on said cutter head, gears on said rotary cutters,

a stationary gear mounted on said frame and ters operate on a log carried by the ram and clamping head as the log is carried longitudinally through the cylindrical cutter head by the ram.

5. A log shaping machine comprising a horizontally disposed rectangular shaped frame having pairs of upper and lower longitudinally disposed parallel bars therein, spaced carriages mounted to travel on said lower bars, a cylindrical cutter head having an opening for logs to pass longitudinally therethrough journaled in the frame and positioned between said carriages, rotating cutters journaled in said cutter head, a ram carried by one of said carriages and mounted to travel longitudinally therethrough, the other of said carriages having a clamping head thereon, means for actuating said ram to clamp a log between the carriages with the log extended through said cutter head and clamped between the ram of one carriage and clamping head of the other carriage, means for actuating said carriages to carry a log through the cutter head and means for rotating the cutter head and cutters carried thereby.

EDWARD WILSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Number 20 Number Name Date Rawson July 8, 1902 Neill Febw 18, 1908 Guerrieri Julyl'l, 1923 Jackson 0ct. 128, 1924 Evans Dec. 13, 1927, Mat'tison Aug. 4, 1931 Myers July-25, 1933 White, Jr., et a1. Jan .,16, 1934 Deiter et a1 Feb.j22, 1938 Siegerist Nov.) 23, 1943 Bukowsky July 4, 1944 Hecker Aug; 19, 1947 Haumann Mar-. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Novlj8, 1916 Germany June 23, 1920 

